Children working on the streets in Brazil: predictors of mental health problems.

The objective of this study was to determine which factors predict higher risk for mental health problems in children working on the streets. We studied a sample of families that had at least one child working on the streets, from October 2008 to March 2009. The instruments applied were the parent version strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ), the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ) for children and caregivers, the WorldSAFE core questionnaire, the global assessment of relational functioning scale (GARF), the schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia for school-age children (K-SADS), and a socio-demographic questionnaire. 191 children between 7 and 14 years of age were analyzed; 126 (66%) were working on the streets, and 65 were siblings who did not work on the streets. Multivariate analysis showed that mental health problems in the caregivers, violent behaviors of the caregivers toward the children, absence of a partner living in the house, and lower levels of family functioning increased the risk of mental health problems in the children. Caregivers reported severe forms of physical punishment against their children in 62% of cases. Caregivers who had suffered sexual abuse and emotional negligence in childhood were more violent with their children. Factors that increased risk for mental health symptoms in these children were caregivers' psychopathology, physical punishment at home, single-parent structure, and poor family functioning. Work on the streets did not influence the children's mental health, when multiple risk factors were considered; family characteristics were the most significant in this sample.

Lack of association between the 5-HTTLPR and positive screening for mental disorders among children exposed to urban violence and maltreatment.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether genetic variations in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR 44-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism) influence an increase in depressive and anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents exposed to high levels of violence. METHODS: Saliva samples were collected from a group of children who were working on the streets and from their siblings who did not work on the streets. DNA was extracted from the saliva samples and analyzed for 5-HTTLPR polymorphism genotypes. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-seven children between the ages of 7 and 14 years were analyzed (114 child workers and 63 siblings). Data on socioeconomic conditions, mental symptoms, and presence and severity of maltreatment and urban violence were collected using a sociodemographic inventory and clinical instruments. There was no positive correlation between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and presence of mental symptoms in our sample, although the children were exposed to high levels of abuse, neglect, and urban violence. CONCLUSIONS: Despite previous studies that associated adult psychiatric disorders with the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and a history of childhood maltreatment, no such association was found in this sample of children at risk.

Exposure to maltreatment and urban violence in children working on the streets in São Paulo, Brazil: factors associated with street work.

OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively study the exposure to childhood maltreatment and urban violence in children from families with at least one child working on the streets and to investigate the relationship between these factors and street work. METHODS: Families who participated in a nongovernmental organization (NGO) program to eliminate child labor were included. Data concerning sociodemographic characteristics, punishment methods used in the family environment against the children, five types of abuse and neglect perpetrated by the caregivers, urban violence exposure and family functioning were collected. RESULTS: The sample included 126 children who were working on the streets and 65 siblings who were not working on the streets. Caregivers reported high levels of severe physical punishment. The children reported high levels of abuse and neglect, and high levels of urban violence exposure. The families showed a predominance of dysfunctional and unsatisfactory relationships. A multiple logistic regression model showed that age older than 12 years and severe physical punishment at home were associated with street work. CONCLUSION: Interventions to decrease the risk of child street work should be family-focused and should aim to reduce violence in the family environment.

Exposure to maltreatment and urban violence in children working on the streets in São Paulo, Brazil: factors associated with street work

Objective: To quantitatively study the exposure to childhood maltreatment and urban violence in children from families with at least one child working on the streets and to investigate the relationship between these factors and street work. Methods: Families who participated in a nongovernmental organization (NGO) program to eliminate child labor were included. Data concerning sociodemographic characteristics, punishment methods used in the family environment against the children, five types of abuse and neglect perpetrated by the caregivers, urban violence exposure and family functioning were collected. Results: The sample included 126 children who were working on the streets and 65 siblings who were not working on the streets. Caregivers reported high levels of severe physical punishment. The children reported high levels of abuse and neglect, and high levels of urban violence exposure. The families showed a predominance of dysfunctional and unsatisfactory relationships. A multiple logistic regression model showed that age older than 12 years and severe physical punishment at home were associated with street work. Conclusion: Interventions to decrease the risk of child street work should be family-focused and should aim to reduce violence in the family environment. .

Hiperlexia em um caso de autismo e suas hipóteses / Hyperlexia in a patient with autistic disorder and its hypothesis

CONTEXTO: Pouco se sabe sobre os mecanismos neurais precoces da leitura. Crianças com doenças do espectro do autismo, em raras ocasiões, apresentam avançadas habilidades de leitura. Apesar de suas sérias dificuldades na expressão e recepção da linguagem, essas crianças podem identificar palavras impressas tão jovens quanto aos 18 meses de idade sem nenhuma instrução explícita. RELATO DE CASO: Relatamos aqui um caso de uma criança de seis anos com história de autismo e que embora apresentasse dificuldades na comunicação, começou a ler aos três anos. Em seguida, discutimos algumas teorias sobre essa associação. CONCLUSÃO: Deficiências no desenvolvimento da linguagem e na comunicação são critérios definidores do autismo; já a hiperlexia, apesar de incomum, quando presente deve ser levada em conta para o diagnóstico. Seus mecanismos ainda são pouco compreendidos, mas diversos estudos feitos associados a outros que estão em andamento poderão elucidar melhor esse sintoma.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the early neural mechanisms of the reading ability. Children with autism spectrum, in rare occasions, present advanced reading abilities. In spite of their severe difficulties in language reception and expression, those children can identify words printed as young as for the 18 months of age without any explicit instruction. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a six year-old child with history of autism who, in spite of severe difficulties in communication, began to read at the age of three. We discuss some theories supporting this association. CONCLUSION: Deficiencies in the development of language and communication are definition criteria for autism. Hyperlexia is uncommon, but when present should be taken into account for the diagnosis. The underlying mechanisms are not completely understood and there is a limited number of studies that in addition to other studies in progress, will help to ellucidate the neurobiology of this symptom.